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Addressing envelopes may seem like just one more unavoidable item on your holiday to-do list, but before you go have labels printed from your electronic address book (if you're that organized), think about the way it feels to see your name written by a loved one's own hand.

"A hand-addressed envelope of any kind is precious compared to anything done on the computer," said professional calligrapher Debi Zeinert. "There's something stiff about something not handwritten."

Abi Gilman hand lettered the addresses on her wedding invitations in 2014, using a fancy script for the names and adding flourishes.

"A lot of people said that they thought it was kind of crazy, but I thought it was a nice personal touch," she said. "All these people come to support you on your wedding day, and each of them means so much to you, so it was a thoughtful way to add a personal touch even though it probably ended up in everybody's trash can."

Kate Strzok, owner of Broadway Paper, said it's tradition that the bride pens all of the invitations.

"The only personal touch is the envelope," she said, and the same is true of many Christmas cards.

To add a fancy, calligraphic touch, try writing the recipient's name in cursive with a fine-point marker and going back to thicken the downstroke of each letter. Then write the street address in all uppercase.